County Partners to Plant Trees in Weequahic Park

Essex County announced they have partnered with the New Jersey Tree Foundation to plant 150 new trees in Essex County Weequahic Park in Newark, officials said Tuesday.

The tree planting, performed by workers from the Essex County Department of Public Works and New Jersey Tree Foundation, was funded by a grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

It began in the park on Monday, April 8 and continued Tuesday, April 9, and includes species like White Oak, Tulip Poplar, Willow Oak, Red Maple, Elm, Bombardy Poplar, Gray Birch, White Ash, Bayberry, Lilac, Redbud, Dogwood and Hedge Maple, county officials said.

“I can’t really say enough about the great relationship with have with the New Jersey Tree Foundation,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr said in a release. “They have worked side by side with us to enhance our communities by planting thousands of new trees in our county parks and along our county roadways,” he added.

“Planting trees throughout the county improves the aesthetics of our communities, makes our neighborhoods more inviting and, most importantly, strengthens the health of our local environment,” he concluded. 

“This is a phenomenal partnership and we are pleased to once again work with Essex County to continue planting trees,” said NJ Tree Foundation Director Lisa Simms. “It serves as a way to enhance our environment and our re-entry program provides former inmates with job training, work experience and a second chance at rebuilding their lives.”

The New Jersey Tree Foundation plants trees along streets, in parks and at schools throughout the state.

Essex County has worked with the group to plant trees in seven municipalities: Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Montclair and Newark.

During the last several years, approximately 2,000 trees have been planted throughout Essex County through this program.